In the late 1980s, the top athletes were mostly pre-pubescent, and the Soviet Union and communist Romania dominated, …

But today, the minimum international competition age is 16, which means most (Senior) competitors are post-pubescent. …

… If you want to flip a bunch of times high in the air, you need a high strength-to-weight ratio. And it is easier to stay skinny before puberty; kids tend to have a lower BMI. But because little kids aren’t allowed to compete anymore, gymnasts compensate by getting really strong.

Aly Raisman, who won the most medals of any American gymnast at the 2012 Olympics, has boobs—and massive traps. …